We cornered one of our Interior Designer friends Jess, and found out what a day in the life is really like for an interior designer. Read on!

People always imagine my job is all mood boards and picking paint colours. And yes, that’s part of it. But being an interior designer is also a daily mix of problem-solving, precision, and occasionally talking clients out of buying leopard-print wallpaper for their kitchen. Here’s what a typical day looks like for me.

7:00 AM – The Calm Before the Storm

My day starts early, usually with coffee and emails. I check messages from suppliers, clients, and builders, there’s always something needing urgent attention.

“This rug won’t fit the freight elevator. Do we have a Plan B?”
Yes. There’s always a Plan B.

I like to start by reviewing my to-do list from the day before, adjusting it for whatever fresh chaos the morning inbox brings. If I’m working from home, I might spend a bit of time updating my floorplans or polishing up client presentations before meetings.

9:00 AM – On the Road

Most mornings involve site visits. Today I’m checking on a residential project we’re halfway through. It’s a full renovation, and the trades are on-site laying tiles and installing cabinetry. I walk through the space, tape measure in hand, checking dimensions against the plans. I catch the electrician about to install a light fixture 30cm too far left. “Let’s bring that pendant back to centre,” I say. “Otherwise, it’ll throw the whole symmetry of the island off.”

Interior design is all about the details. A few centimetres can ruin the visual flow of a room, and once something’s installed, it’s a lot harder to fix.

11:30 AM – Supplier Meetings & Sample Runs

Next stop: a local showroom to finalise finishes for another client’s kitchen. I lay out stone samples, cabinet doors, and metal finishes on a giant work table. Then I video call the client so they can see the options in real lighting.

“This brushed nickel has a warmer tone,” I explain. “It’ll feel softer against your terrazzo.”

They nod. I’ve learned that half of interior design is storytelling, helping clients see how everything connects before it’s actually built. I take a few samples with me (always labelled!) to test in the real space later. Colours shift dramatically depending on light and time of day.

1:00 PM – Lunch, or Something Like It

Lunch is usually on the run, today, it’s a sandwich eaten in the car while I review a digital mood board for an upcoming project. I jot down a few notes and voice-record a reminder to follow up with a joiner about custom shelves.

People think being an interior designer is glamorous, and sometimes it is. But sometimes it’s sweat, spreadsheets, and hoping your client’s sofa actually fits through the door.

2:00 PM – Client Presentation

Back at the studio, it’s time to present a concept to a new client. I’ve laid everything out: 3D renders, fabric swatches, furniture layouts, and a beautifully bound design document.

They love it—until they see the budget.

“Do we need the custom headboard?” one of them asks.

“We don’t,” I reply, “but the store-bought version will shrink the impact of the room. The headboard sets the tone—you’ll feel the difference every day.”

This part of the job is negotiation. Explaining where to invest, where to save, and why something that seems purely aesthetic often has functional or emotional value too.

4:00 PM – Admin and Damage Control

The final part of my day is usually admin. I respond to clients, adjust budgets, send updates to trades, and track deliveries. Today, a rug has been delayed, again. I call the supplier, adjust the install timeline, and loop in the client with a new ETA. There’s also the fun stuff: sourcing a vintage mirror, finalising a custom armchair fabric, and playing with accessories for a shoot next week.

6:00 PM – Wrap-Up and Wind-Down

I try to wrap by six, but let’s be honest, I’m usually still answering messages from clients who’ve spotted “the perfect coffee table” on Instagram at 8:30 PM. I don’t mind. Designing someone’s home is personal. People get excited, and I want them to feel involved. Still, by the time I actually shut my laptop, I’m ready for my own space to be quiet, calm, and ideally candlelit.

Being an interior designer means wearing a dozen hats, creative, technical, logistical, and emotional. It’s not always as pretty as it looks on Instagram, but when I walk through a finished space and see a client light up? That’s the best part of my job.

“It’s like you knew exactly what we wanted, before we did,” a client once told me.
And honestly, that’s the goal.